The Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee approved election-year immigration legislation Monday that is far different from what most Americans had in mind. The bill, which goes to the full senate, paves the way for millions of undocumented workers to become US citizens without having to first leave the country or pay a fine.

After days of protests led by left-wing groups masquerading as rank-and-file illegal aliens the Senate committee's GOP members folded like cheap cameras and voted to strip away proposed criminal penalties for residents found to be in this country illegally. The bill which passed the House of Representatives called for such penalties.

The panel's vote now allows the bill to go before the full Senate for debate on Tuesday.
"All Americans wanted fairness and they got it this evening," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who played a pivotal role in drafting the legislation along with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), approved 12-6.

Of course, Sen. Kennedy's sense of fairness has always been questionable. In fact, what he calls fair is unfair to American citizens and legal immigrants who had to endure the pain of dealing with the immigration bureaucracy.

Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) voted for the bill but signaled that some of the provisions could well be changed by the full Senate, but most observers don't buy that for a moment. Conservatives knew Sen. Specter was a liberal and therefore urged the GOP not to give him the chairmanship. Once again, he's shown the conservatives to be right.

In general, the bill is designed to strengthen border patrol, but with more of the same, which means the borders will remain vulnerable. While polls have shown that a majority of Americans support the use of the US military on US borders to backup the Border Patrol, this will never happen even if the entire congress were Republican. However, the senators, many preparing for the November elections made great inroads with the so-called Hispanic block-voters and the new bill is passed will "create new opportunities for so-called guest workers and determine the legal future of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally."

At several critical points, committee Democrats were united while Republicans splintered. In general, GOP Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Mike DeWine of Ohio, who is seeking reelection this fall, sided with Democrats. These backstabbing, spineless liberals posing as conservatives during elections gave Democrats a majority that allowed them to shape the bill to their liking.

A SWIPE AT THEIR BASE

During this entire debate, President Bush and many GOP leaders treated the conservative base of their feckless party as a pariah. While spouting conservative talking points, these political leaders took a huge swipe at their base and at many moderates on this issue.

For instance, just after the Senate Judiciary Committee announced their vote, a Time/Warner push poll discovered that the majority of Americans will not be happy when they discover what was really passed as opposed to what these senators and the media say they passed.

Here are the questions posed and the results of the push poll:

1. Would you support a temporary worker program?
NO 58% YES 42%

2. Would you support a security fence on the border?
YES 81% NO 19%

3. Should those who sneak into the country be treated as felons?
YES 78% NO 22%

4. Should those already in the country illegal have a path to citizenship?
NO 69% YES 31%

5. How big an issue is illegal immigration?
Very 86% Somewhat 10% Not at all 4%

One of the organizers of the California protest appeared on Fox News earlier today and stated, besides the usual litany of lies and half-truths, that the US is a terrorist country and that the Mexican illegals will make the US a better place.

The head of the so-called Border Angels also demanded a national healthcare program and other freebies, thereby revealing his socialist agenda.

He also lied and said illegal immigrants do not commit crimes but that American citizens go to other countries and torture and kill innocent people. And the feckless GOP is rewarding this man.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for a number of organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. He writes for many police and crime magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer, Campus Law Enforcement Journal, and others. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com, Booksamillion.com, and can be ordered at local bookstores. Kouri holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and master of arts in public administration and he's a board certified protection professional.